Bicycle



(No Model.) I 3 Sheets--Sheet 1..

G. B. DURKEE.

' BICYCLE.

No. 439,129.-- Patnted Oct. 28, 189-7 Wasww I Q/W' (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.'

e. BynnRKEfi.

BICYCLE.

No; 439,129. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

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(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

G. B. DURKEE.

' BICYCLE.

No. 439,129. Patented Oct 28, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. DURKEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,129, dated October 28, 1890. Application fi led February 26, 1889. Renewed April 19, 1890- Serial No. 348,597. (No model.)

to volves in its organization a high front wheel and a low rear wheel.

Prior to my invention the handle-bars in bicycles of such character have usually been rigidly connected with the steering-head or upper end of the post or standard that affords journal-bearings for the front wheel and connects above the latter with the back or seatsupporting frame. In said machines thehandle-bars are usually higher than and somewhat in front of the position occupied by the riders legs, but withal are within comparatively close proximity thereto. These said handle-bars are in full-sized machines commonly made from twenty-six to thirty inches 2 5 in length, and, as is well known, are grasped by the hands of the rider in order that he may steer the machine. An accident incident to and exceedingly common in the use of bicycles of the foregoing description is the taking a header, as it is usually termed by bicyclists, the nature of such accident being a forward pitch of the rider upon the occasion of a sudden arrestment of the machine while running over the ground, and as a result of such forward pitch on the part of the rider his unavoidable swing about the handle-bars, which thereupon constitute a center, about which he will turn in a manner to fall to the ground head foremost. Said accident is com mon to professionals or old riders as well as to beginners, and hence the high-wheel bicycle, while for many purposes an extremely desirable machine, has lost much of its popularity.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby the said accidents may be avoided, and to insure perfect safety to the rider in the event of his being thrown forward by reason of an abrupt stoppage of the machine.

A further object is to permit the rider to readily pass through passage-Ways too narrow for a bicycle provided with handle-bars projecting laterally, as heretofore, also, to adapt the machine to be placed in compact form for shipment, and to provide certain improved details serving to increase the general utility of high-wheeled bicycles.

In a bicycle characterized by my invention I provide upon the steering-post or standard a pair of hinged or pivoted handle-bars, which are so arranged that while under all ordinary circumstances they may without effort on the part of the rider be caused to occupy a position best suited to his convenience, they may in the event of his being suddenly thrown forward be caused to close or fold together with ease and rapidity and in such manner as to allow him to alight upon the ground in a standing position. These folding handlebars can be arranged so that the operation of folding or closing them in case of accident may be practically an involuntary matter on the part of the rider, and, in fact, during the forward pitch of the rider the very act of striking his legs against the handle-bars may serve to fold and bring them into such position between his legs as will allow him to alight in an easy and natural way. I also pivotally support the handle-bars in such way that they may fold in a plane at an angle to the line of pull or push exerted by the rider against the handle-bars while steering the machine, whereby his ordinary manipulation or use of the handle-bars will have no tendency to fold them; I also provide in connection with the folding handle-bars certain improved details, hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in perspective the upper forward portion of the bicycle with the handle-bars extended or open and ready for use. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1,but shows the handie-bars folded or closed, the portion of the wheel shown in Fig. 1 being omitted in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 represents in elevation the jointplate and illustrates, partially in section and partially in elevation, the inner end portions of the handle-bars pivoted to the joint-plate and gear connected with one another. Fig. 4 is a View substantially like Fig. 3, with the exception that the handle-bars are not geared together in Fig. 4:. Fig. 5 representsa sec tion on line 5 5, Fig. 3, and shows in eleva tion the joint-plate and means for connecting the same with the steering-head or upper end of the steering-post. Fig. 6 represents in perspective the upper forward portion of the machine and includes the brake, the handlebars being in this figure in an unfolded condition. Fig. 7 represents in perspective the upper forward portion of the machine with the handle-bars closed or folded together. Fig. 8 represents in perspective a portion of the brake-lever and the brake connected therewith by links. Fig. 9 represents in elevation a high-wheel bicycle and illustrates the rider in the act of being thrown forward, or taking a header, after the old style. Fig. 10 illustrates the rider in the act of alighting with safety when thrown forward from a bicycle having my improvement applied thereto.

In said drawings, A indicates the high front wheel; B, the low rear wheel, and C the body or saddle bar that is arranged as a connection between the rear wheel and the steering-post or standard D and further adapted as a support for a riders seat E, as usual.

The handle-bars F are provided with suitable handles or otherwise adapted to be conveniently grasped by the rider,and are at their inner ends hinged or pivotally attached to the joint-plate G, which latter is in turn suitably hinged upon or pivotally attached to the upper end or head of the steering-post.

The j oint-plate G, which serves as a jointed connection between the handle-bars, considered as an entirety, and the steering-post, is arranged to turn about a horizontal axis, which is also transverse with relation to the plane of the front wheel. Various means may be adopted for maintaining the jointplate at the desired angle, but by preference it is held simply by a friction-joint.

The handle-bars could have flattened inner ends pivoted to one side of the j ointplate; but as a preferred and more desirable way I provide the handle-bars with bifurcated inner ends f and pivot said ends upon both sides of the joint-plate, which enters the gap or notch at each forked end of a handlebar.

The handle-bars are so pivoted to the j ointplate that they can be either thrown out horizontally and in readiness for use, as in Figs. 1 and 6, or swung up and folded together, as in Figs. 2 and 7.

Any suitable stop device can be provided for supporting the handles in their extended or horizontal conditionas, for example, stops can be attached to or formed with the jointplate and arranged as rests for the handlebars when the latter are brought into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 6. Thehandlebars are also so pivoted to the joint-plate that in folding and unfolding they may swing in a plane coincident with the plane of the joint-plate, whereby the joint-plate can be set at an angle which will compel the handle-bars when folded and unfolded to swing in a plane that is about at an angle of forty-five degrees to the line of pull or push exerted by the arms of the rider upon the handle-bars while propelling the bicycle. By such arrangement the usual push or pull upon the handle-bars will have no tendency to lift them from their normally-extended position, and hence the objectionable feature of auxiliary locking devices is entirely avoided, it being seen that the joint should be so adjusted that the handle-bars shall swing in a plane which inclines upwardly and forwardly from the rider. (Indicated in figure 5, wherein dotted line as indicates the plane in which the handle-bars may swing in folding, while dotted line 'y indicates the line of pull or push of the rider.) It will also be obvious that if the handle-bars were arranged to fold in a vertical plane some sort of latch or catch device would be required to hold them in their normal position as against the ordinary push or pull of the rider, and that such arrangement would necessitate the employment of levers to be operated by the riders legs in case of accident, and hence involve an uncertain and unsatisfactory device, which might become unlocked by accident or which in the event of accident might fail to work.

As a further feature of improvement, I gearconnect the handle-bars by cogs or gears secured to or formed with their inner ends. By such arrangement a swing on the part of one handle-bar about its pivotal support will necessitate a like movement on the part of the other handle-bar, and hence the handle-bars must fold and unfold synchronously.

In the event of a sudden arrestment of the machine when under high speedas, for example, by encountering a stone, as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10the momentum acquired by the rider will cause him to pitch forward. WVh en the handle-bars are rigid with the steering-post or incapable of folding, the rider will be thrown against the handle-bars, as in Fig. 9, wherein the rider is shown in the act of taking a header. During such performance the steering-post tilts forward and the rear wheel is thrown. Before the rider has reached the ground he will be thrown astride the steeringpost and against the handle-bars, which will cross his legs. If the handle-bars are rigid with the steering-post, they will at the aforesaid juncture serve as a center or pivot about which the rider will swing, and since the portion of his body above the handle-bars is heavier than the lower portions of his legs he will swing to the ground head foremost; but with my improvement applied, as hereinbefore set forth, the very act of the rider strik ing against the handle-bars during his forward pitch will effect an automatic folding of the handle-bars, whereby they will fold and lie as a single bar between his legs, as in Fig. 10, and hence allow him to alight on his feet, it being seen in said figure that the folded handle-bars offer no check to the free forward bodily movement of the rider. The handlebars may, as hereinbefore mentioned, be either geared together or not, their capability of folding being in either case insured either by the reason of the rider striking against them or by the manual operation of folding them should the rider (as he will be most likely to do) instinctively close the handlebars the instant an accident becomes apparent. I prefer, however, to so connect the handle-bars by gears f or any similar levers that they will necessarily fold or close simultaneously, since by such arrangement any failure to apply folding power to one handlebar will be made amends for by the application of such power to the other handle-bar.

The folding handle-bars can obviously be folded for shipment, and, furthermore, in passing through a narrow passage-way the rider can raise and close the handle-bars to the desired extent and at the same time effectively use them for steering purposes.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the brake H is pivoted upon the head or upper end portion of the steering-post, and is provided with an upwardly-extending arm h, which rests against the curved end portion of a brake-lever I, that is in turn carried by one of the handlebars. By such arrangement the brake-lever may by simple contact with the brake preserve its connection therewith regardless of the position of the handle-bar, as fully illustrated by said two figures. I prefer, however, the arrangement indicated in Fig. 8, wherein one end of the brake-lever is linkconnected with the brake, it being seen that such arrangement will allow the handle-bar carrying the brake-lever to fold Without disconnecting the brake-lever and brake.

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to provide a bicycle with hinged handlebars; but in such case the folding handle-bars have not been arranged to fold in a plane substantially at right angles to the line of pull or push exerted bythe riders arms, and as a means for operating said handle-bars certain devices have been employed in connection therewith and arranged to be actuated by the legs of the rider in the event of his taking a header, which said construction is, as hereinbefore mentioned, objectionable.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the steering-post in a bicycle, of the folding handle-bars pivotally supported upon said steering-post and arranged to fold in an inclined plane substantially at right angles to the line of push or pull exerted by the riders arms in steering.

2. In a bicycle, the folding handle-bars geared together and pivotally supported upon the steering-post, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the folding handle-bars, of the friction brake-lever pivoted upon the steering-post, the operating-lever pivoted upon one of the folding handle-bars, and a link-connection between the brakelever and the operating-lever, substantially as described.

GEORGE E. DURKEE.

Witnesses:

CHAS. G. PAGE, ANNIE COATES, 

